Sunfield MI. GAR cannons.

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Drove by Subfield many times but never drove the 4 blocks in to yown to see the original GAR post located there. Old wooden building but it has two cannons in front.

It was wirth the 4 block drive. But they are not a matched set. I assume they are original Civl War era. On line it says these two cannons were captured during the Spanish American War.

 

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Spanish markings? Not sure.

 

[LHR Lead]

The markings are hard to read but the "WPF" means West Point Foundary."
One is a 42-pdr Seacoast Gun, made by WPF in 1842. It has a registration number of 11,
the other is a 32-pdr Seacoast Gun, made by WPF in 1834 with a registration number of 283.
Both of these guns are interesting as WPF stamped their foundry numbers in roman numerals, CCLXXVI and CV respectfully.

 

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I take it that these were very obsolete by the Spanish American War.

 

[LHR Lead]

These were delivered to the GAR post in 1899.
These were over-the hill but the 10in Rodmans sleeved to 8 inches (rifled) were still around. We were moving to rifled breech-loaders, but some where still black-powder. The M1899 smokless-powder shore guns were just coming in to use.
Many of the Spanish-American war trophies from Cuba and the Philippines were smooth-bore muzzle loaders.

 

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I understand that some of the GAR members had donated Civil War items and inside the GAR hall they are displayed. Sunfield was having their 'Home Town Days' and I thought the GAR hall might be open to the public, but sadly it was not.

The Historical Society Museum was open and had free lunchs so I was not disappointed, well not too disappointed.